Big Europe Strikes Have Little Effect

Walkouts in Spain, Portugal and Greece Appear Unlikely to Sway Governments Committed to More Austerity Measures

By

Matt Moffett,

Ilan Brat and

Patricia Kowsmann

Updated Nov. 14, 2012 8:18 p.m. ET

MADRID—General strikes and sporadic violence against government austerity programs racked Spain, Portugal and Greece, but they appeared unlikely to sway the leaders of countries that are becoming inured to protests after four years of economic distress.

Protest fatigue, declining levels of unionization and factionalism within the labor movement have combined to take much of the bite out of strikes as tools for changing government...